XXII - WAYS
Nick felt odd ringing his own doorbell. Standing on the front step, several bags of groceries in his hands, he actually had to bump the bell with his shoulder.
He rang it three times before Sara answered it, her look oblique as she moved to the side to allow Nick in.
"Did you forget your keys?"
Nick shook his head, "Nope. But, you know – I didn't want to barge in." Lowering his voice, he asked, "Grissom still here?"
"Yes."
"And?"
Sara shrugged and grinned, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, before reaching out and grabbing a couple of the grocery bags.
"We talked."
Nick followed her into the kitchen and deposited the bags on the countertop, before turning and studying her again. Her hair was slightly disheveled; her cheeks flushed a light pink. Her entire face glowed. "He kiss you?"
"Nick!"
Nick laughed, "That answers that question. Where is Grissom now?"
"He's out in the back yard, admiring your telescope. We were outside when you got back – that's why we didn't hear the doorbell."
"Right." He started taking the groceries out of the bags and putting them away, before suddenly turning to her and reaching out, gripping her shoulder as he studied her intently. "So, are you happy?"
Sara smiled, willingly stepping into his comfortable embrace, "I'm going to be. Thanks to you."
* * * * *
Warrick was making homemade chili when the excited yapping of the ugly little puppy, followed by Lindsey's excited shriek of 'Mommy!' announced Catherine's return home. Placing the large chopping knife down, he carefully washed his hands and headed towards the front entrance.
Catherine was on her knees, arms full of Lyndsey and puppy, try to avoid the kisses the hairier of the two was trying to give her. Sensing Warrick's presence, she looked up and smiled. Warrick felt his heart do a small somersault before free-falling to the pit of his stomach. She was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at her.
"Hey."
"Hey. I smell something good."
Warrick smiled, "Thought I'd make you some of my Grams famous steak chili. How'd it go at the salon?"
Catherine grinned, "Stephan gave me the hairbrush he used. I dropped it off at the lab on my way home." Slowly disentangling herself from her daughter, she rose gracefully to her feet. "So, this is your puppy?"
Lynds hopped from foot to foot, "Isn't she sweet? I named her Warrick Brown, but we're going to call her Brownie, okay mommy? Because Warrick isn't a good name for a little girl doggie. Warrick took us to a great big pet store, and he bought Brownie a purple collar with diamonds on it and a matching leash. But the collar is too big for her right now – but it's so pretty! And we got her a crate with a nice doggie pillow with purple bones all over it! And some chewie toys, because Warrick said we don't want her chewing my Barbies or your shoes, and –"
Catherine laughed, and threw her hands up in the air, "Lynds! Slow down! Sounds like Warrick has been spoiling you."
Lyndsey rolled her eyes, "Not me, Mommy! He's spoiling the puppy!"
Warrick grinned at Catherine's amused sigh, before interrupting, "Brownie's sniffing, Lynds. Remember what that means?"
Lyndsey shrieked, and scooped the little dog up, running down the hallway, "She needs to do her business!"
Catherine looked at Warrick and smiled tiredly, "Has she been like that since you got the puppy?"
"Since before. It's been a big day. You look tired Cath. Come talk to me while I finish the chili."
Catherine followed Warrick into the kitchen, and sank gratefully into a chair at the table. Warrick had the radio playing, and Catherine smiled when she realized he hadn't changed the station from the classic rock she normally listened too.
"I never realized you were so domesticated," she offered, watching him as he resumed chopping some green pepper into small squares, before tossing them into a crock pot he had managed to dig out from one of her cupboards.
The sauce was simmering nicely, and Catherine's stomach growled when she caught a whiff of the chili when he lifted the top. "This should be done in about an hour – I've had the steak tips in the sauce for a good long time now. You look tired, Cath."
"I am tired."
Warrick walked over, placing his hands on either side of her neck, massaging his thumbs into her shoulders. He smiled when she sighed and dropped her head forward, allowing him greater access to her neck.
"That feels so good!" Catherine groaned, "Don't stop."
"I won't," Warrick agreed affably. Neither spoke for a few minutes. Warrick continued massaging Catherine's neck, trying not to imagine how his hands would look caressing the pale flesh of other parts of her body. He wondered if she had the same thoughts.
The radio was playing in the background.
~ She's
got a way about her
I don't know what it is
But I know that I can't live without her
She's got a way of pleasin'
I don't know what it is
But there doesn't have to be a reason
Anyway
She's got a smile that heals me
I don't know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me
She's got a way of talkin'
I don't know what it is
But it lifts me up when we are walkin'
Anywhere ~
Catherine listened to Warrick humming as he rubbed her neck and shoulders. She could feel a lethargic heat seeping from his hands deep into the pit of her stomach, an exciting warmth pooling through her system and sending little tendrils of electricity through her limbs.
Sighing deeply, she slowly stood up, her back to Warrick as he continued rubbing her shoulders. Turning towards him, she smiled when he didn't drop his hands. The purposeful movement of his fingers had changed from a deep massage to a gentle stroking of her collarbone.
"Warrick," she murmured. His eyes were electric green. Reaching a hand up, she brushed the side of his face tenderly, reveling in the feel of his stubble beneath her palm. Warrick's hands tightened on her shoulders, pulling her closer. She felt like she was drowning.
The first touch of his lips was so tender and tentative, it made her want to cry from sheer joy. He brushed his lips gently over hers, barely tasting the warm flesh of her mouth, before pulling away slightly. Catherine felt her other hand trail up his back, fingers categorizing the warm splay of muscle and sinew through his shirt, before coming to rest at the back of his neck. She smiled at him.
"You are so beautiful," she whispered.
"That's my line," he whispered back, before kissing her again. This time, the kiss was deeper, less tentative. Catherine felt as if her blood was on fire, roaring through her veins uncontrollably. She lost track of time as she simply allowed herself to revel in the taste of him; his gentleness and strength a marvel to her.
Warrick trailed his hands down to her hips, pulling her closer, before spanning her waist with his grip. His heart was pounding triple time, urging him on. With hardly any effort, he lifted her and took three steps forward, placing her gently on the counter and stepping into the cradle of her hips. He could feel the strong flex of her thighs around his waist, and groaned into her mouth. Her hands had dropped down to the waistband of his pants and snaked underneath his shirt, her fingers against the hot skin of his back.
They were going up in flames, but what a way to die.
It took a few moments for the fact that they were no longer alone in the kitchen to penetrate. Warrick groaned silently when a soft furry body scampered over his feet and started playing with the shoelaces on his Nikes. Opening an eye and pulling away from Catherine slightly, he slanted a gaze sideways and saw Lyndsey standing just inside the kitchen, staring at them with amazement.
Catherine sighed and buried her face in his chest, flushing a deep red before turning to look at Lyndsey as well.
The little girl was the first to speak. "You two were kissing just like they do on the soap operas 'Nessa watches." Walking over to the fridge, she grabbed herself a juice box before turning and looking at them seriously. "Does this mean I'm gonna get a baby sister?"
Catherine would have laughed out loud at the question, if she wasn't so embarrassed. Her startled gaze flew to Warrick's, but he was just looking at the little girl in amazed stupification. Catherine realized she still had her legs on either side of his waist.
"Lynds, honey. What makes you think we're going to have a baby?"
Lyndsey looked at Catherine and rolled her eyes, "Mommy, everyone knows that's how you get babies. You find someone you like a lot and don't mind kissing, and you kiss like they do on TV, and then you're a family and get babies. But I don't want a brother."
Warrick had finally collected his wits about him and stepped away from Catherine, ostensibly stirring the chili, before turning to smile at the little girl. "That's not quite how it works, Lynds."
Lyndsey interrupted him, "Do you love me?"
Warrick blinked at her, before sending a pleading look at Catherine, who simply shook her head. Warrick sighed, "You know you're my best girl."
"Mary-Ellen has a new uncle who lives with her and her mommy. He loves her so much, they're getting married and becoming a family together, and he's going to be her new daddy. You're my uncle. Why don't you live with us, and become my 'nother daddy?"
"Because, Lynds. There's so much more than that involved. You're mom and I – we haven't even been out on a date yet. We can't just decide to get married out of the blue."
Lyndsey turned to her mother, "You hafta take Warrick out on a date. Buy him red roses, and chocolates, and then bring him home and kiss him some more. And then, you can preposition him."
Catherine almost choked, "Preposition him?"
"Yeah. Get down on one knee, and say 'Warrick, will you marry me and Lyndsey?'"
Warrick smiled indulgently at the little girl, biting back the sudden laughter that threatened to overwhelm him along with a surge of affection so strong it almost brought him to his knees. Stepping forwards, he crouched down in front of Lyndsey and hugged her. "I love you, Lyndsey-Lou. But let your mom and I figure this out on our own, okay?"
* * * * *
Nick was having a good time. He had prepared a large Greek salad for the three of them, and grilled a couple of steaks for Grissom and himself. Standing at the BBQ, he had watched Grissom and Sara surreptitiously as they kept sneaking glances at each other. It reminded him so much of high school, he had a hard time keeping himself from laughing.
Initially, he had tried to maintain some semblance of small talk, but he quickly realized the conversation was completely one-sided on his part. Sara and Grissom would answer, of course, before both lapsed into a silent language of subtle looks and covert touches only two people in the early throws of romance shared.
Nick decided to content himself as a spectator. Watching Sara and Grissom dance around their suddenly revealed feelings for each other was like watching the mating ritual of two socially inept ostriches who had both finally managed to pull their heads out of the sand at the same time. It would have been painful to watch, if it wasn't so fascinating. They really were perfect for each other.
He had just finished his steak when his beeper, along with both Sara's and Grissom's, went off simultaneously. Nick jumped to his feet. "I'll call in. You two finish your meals."
Heading into his kitchen, he grabbed the phone and punched in the number for the lab. Judy at reception quickly patched him through to Greg.
"Greggo!" Nick greeted, "What are you doing at work two hours before shift starts?"
"Actually, Nick, I've been here for two hours already, so technically I pulled a double. After I dropped Grissom off at your place, I decided to come back to the lab and wait for Catherine to come back from the salon. Caught some zzz's on that crappy-ass loveseat in the break room. What's up?"
"I don't know – you tell me. You're the one that paged me."
"And Grissom, and Sara. They still both at your place?"
"Just finishing dinner," Nick replied.
"Did Sara deck him yet?"
"Nope."
"You and Grissom all squared away? Grissom and Sara - ?"
Nick rolled his eyes, but grinned into the phone when he responded, "Greg – everything's great. More than that, you won't get from me – I'm not the social convener. So spill - why'd you page?"
"The brush Catherine got from the salons was full of fresh epithelials. I ran the DNA against what we managed to get from the ventilation system, and it's a match. You were right on the money – Marta's involved up to her eyeballs, and Miles is her brother."
_____________________________
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, folks. Hope it was worth it. Please R&R – and I'll try to get the next chapter posted ASAP. The song on the radio is Billy Joel's 'She's Got A Way'.